Tuam

The Association of Catholic Priests will hold a public meeting in Tuam this Wednesday evening, ahead of the Pope's visit to Ireland next month.

This is one of four regional meetings being held across the country ahead of the Papal visit, asking what do we need to say to Pope Francis about the Irish Church ?

Wednesday's meeting takes place at the Árd Rí Hotel in Taum from 7 to 9.30 pm.

Fr Brendan Hoban, who will speak at the meeting, says it's open to everybody to make a submission, and a summary of the meeting will be forwarded afterwards to Pope Francis via the Papal Nuncio to Ireland.

Galway East deputy, Sean Canney says he’s more disappointed than angry at the Independent Alliance group for not honouring a hand shake agreement on the rotation of the portfolio, of Minister for the OPW.

The Tuam based deputy and Kevin Boxer Moran flipped a coin when this coalition government was formed, to decide who would take on the position first and it was understood that it would rotate on a twelve month basis.

But the present position holder Minister Kevin Boxer Moran refused to hand it back as the third year of the coalition got underway last month.

Members of the Alliance backed Minister Moran staying on.

Sean Canney spent two week considering his position and this morning announced he is leaving the group.

He has also confirmed he'll continue to support the government in confidence and budgetary matters.

Speaking to Midwest News today deputy Canney explained why it took him two weeks to decide on this move.

He said he did not want to react hastiliy, and preferred to confer with his supporters.

They met last night and agreed he would exit the group.

He says he was elected as an Independent and he believes he can now serve his constituents best as an Independent.

He says it is up to the Taoiseach now, if he is to retain his position as Assistant Government Whip.

There’s good news for the Educate Together schools in Castlebar and Tuam, as the Department of Education has agreed to lift the cap on enrolment numbers.

A campaign had been underway by five Educate Together schools across the country to lift the restriction the Department had imposed of 13 junior infants in the new school year.

The schools argued that this policy would restrict their growth.

Educate Together has now welcomed the Department’s deicision to lift the enrolement restrictions and allow all five schools in Castlebar, Tuam, Trim, New Ross and Tramore to develop into 8 classroom full-stream schools.

The government now needs to enact the Information and tracing Bill. That’s the call today from Tuam based Fianna Fail deputy Anne Rabbitte.

Nearly two thirds of children affected by yesterday’s adoption revelations are unaware that they are adopted.

It was revealed yesterday that thousands of people may have had false birth certs issued by adoption agencies.

Between the 1940s and 1960s St Patrick's Guild illegally listed some couples as birth parents, despite the fact that they had adopted children.

Tusla is starting to contact those affected and an investigation is getting underway, with fears that the figures could run into the thousands.

Deputy Rabbitte is the Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs.

Speaking on the Tommy Marren Show this morning she said this government now needs to immediately enact the Information and Tracing Bill that would give everyone a right to acquire their birth cert.

Tuam based historian, Catherine Corless who led the campaign that exposed the Tuam Mother and Baby home scandal, says that as disturbing as it is for those impacted by the present adoption scandal, some consolation can be taken from the truth finally being exposed.

Speaking to Midwest News she acknowledged the work of the present Minister Katherine Zappone in taking action on the adoption scandal that is not "new news" to successive governments.

Gardaí in Tuam are appealing for public assistance in locating 45 year old Michael Cunniffe, who is missing from his home in Tuam, since Saturday night last, (7th April). Michael was last seen when he left work from Parkmore Industrial Estate in Galway late last Saturday night. He is described as being 5' 6" in height, of medium build with short brown hair. When last seen he was wearing a maroon hoodie, black jeans and white runners. He is believed to be driving his car, a black Seat Ibiza, registration number 06 D 6792. Anyone who can assist in locating Michael is asked to contact Tuam Garda Station on 093 70840, The Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

The Irish Cancer Society has announced emergency funding so that women directly affected by the CervicalCheck controversy can have free counselling in their own community.

Funds will be made available for an additional 500 counselling sessions in 25 Irish Cancer Society-affiliated Support Centres across the country, including Mayo Cancer Support Association, Castlebar in Mayo, Roscommon Cancer Support Centre and Tuam Cancer Care Centre. The society has taken the step in response to the significant increase in the numbers of women seeking advice and support from the charity around CervicalCheck and their smear test results.

The announcement brings to 8,000 the number of free counselling sessions for people affected by cancer which the Irish Cancer Society will provide funding for in 2018.

Donal Buggy is Head of Advocacy at the Irish Cancer Society and told Midwest News this evening that this is important additional funding for counselling services.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone is to visit Tuam on Monday evening next.

During the visit she is expected to take time listening to the views of people on the future of the site of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.

Speaking ahead of the visit Minister Zappone said:

“As I prepare to make a recommendation to Government on the future of children’s remains and the site of the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, I am anxious to have another opportunity to hear first-hand the views of people affected.

The consultation by Galway County Council as well as legal and expert advice will help inform my decision. However I do firmly believe that all voices must be given an opportunity to be heard.

The Minister will hold a meeting at 7pm at the Ard Rí House Hotel, Milltown Road, Tuam, Co. Galway next Monday.

Minister Zappone has extended an invitation to all those who believe they have yet to be heard and those who wish to support previously express views, to attend.

Minister Zappone said that notwithstanding the complexities surrounding the future of the site, it is important that the decisions which are taken are just, credible and transparent.

Next Monday’s gathering is another step to ensure we achieve those goals.”

Galway East TD Sean Canney is resigning as Assistant Government Chief Whip.

Following his decision last Friday to leave the Independent Alliance, the Tuam-based TD has confirmed this afternoon that he has informed the Taoiseach of his decision to resign from the position of Assistant Chief Whip.

Deputy Canney says this is his own personal decision, and both decisions have been based on principle, not position.

He says the issue of Assistant Government Chief Whip has become a distraction from his main priority, which is serving in the interests of his constituents.

The role saw Mr Canney get a 15,000 euro top up to his salary which he will now forego.

Deputy Canney says he will continue to support the Government on budgetary and confidence issues, as it’s important that we maintain a stable Government.

A group representing survivors of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home say they have communicated without any doubt to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, what they believe should happen with the site of the former home.

Tuam Home Survivors Network was responding to the news that Minister Zappone is to visit Tuam on Monday evening next.

In a statement Minister Zappone said during the visit she will take time listening to the views of people on the future of the site of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.

The Minister will hold a meeting at 7pm at the Ard Rí House Hotel, Milltown Road, Tuam, Co. Galway next Monday.

Minister Zappone has extended an invitation to all those who believe they have yet to be heard and those who wish to support previously express views, to attend.

However a spokesperson for Tuam Home Survivors Network told Midwest News that they have already made it very clear that they believe that the remains need to be recovered from the site, DNA recorded and stored in a database that will be made available and after these steps have been followed, the site can become a memorial to the lives lost there and those who survived the institution.

Breeda Murphy said prior to full excavation and retrieval with dignity, any talk of memorialisation is premature.

A Co Galway pharmacist is calling for tougher sentencing, for those convicted of burglaries and similar types of crime against pharmacists.

The Irish Pharmacy Union published a survey this week, showing that 80% of pharmacies were victims of crime in the past year, and one-third of those were violent incidents.

Cash and drugs were the most common items taken.

Tougher sentencing and a more visible Garda presence are among the measures needed to tackle this type of crime, according to Darragh O’Loughlin, Secretary General of the IPU, who’s own pharmacy in Tuam was targeted on New Years Eve night…